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Happiness Happens Month + 20 Ways to Find Your Happiness

Throughout the year there are official and unofficial holidays, but today I learned that there is a Happiness Happens Month, all thanks to a blog post I was reading from The Small Adventurer.

As humans, we strive to be happy all the time, whether that be appreciating what you have in your life today or planning happy moments for the future. August is set aside to really focus on what makes you happy, so that you can celebrate it.

“The month reminds us that happiness happens one small moment at a time and it’s our job to recognize those moments when they happen. It reminds us that sometimes a small action boosts our happiness. It reminds us that happiness is a personal experience and it’s also contagious!”

To kick off some happy thinking, here is a thought provoking TED talk from Robert Waldinger – a professor at Harvard Medical School and is known for his findings from the Grant Study, a 75-year-long study on adult happiness.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD LIFE? LESSONS FROM THE LONGEST STUDY ON HAPPINESS.

Key learnings from this study (quoted):

Good relationships keep us happier and healthier: Social connections are good for us. Those who are more socially connected are happier, physically healthier and live longer.

Quality not quantity: It’s not the number of friends you have or whether you’re in a committed relationship, but it’s the quality of your close relationships. Living in conflict is really bad for our health and the people who were most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 where the healthiest at age 80.

Leaning in to relationships is good for you.

Watch the video above for a lot more insight.

To help celebrate Happiness Happens month here are 20 WAYS TO FIND YOUR HAPPINESS, one small moment at a time.

1. Go on a date with your best friend2. Take a long walk to a new place3. Listen to your favourite song4. Visit your neighbour5. Pick flowers6. Have a bath7. Cook with someone you love8. Relax and drink tea9. Talk to someone you don’t know10. Stretch for 5 minutes11. Plant some flowers12. Make a healthy smoothie13. Read poetry14. Help someone in need15. Meditate or pray16. Dance to an amazing song17. Cuddle18. Write a postcard and mail it19. Sign up to a local program20. Tell someone you love them

What will you do to focus on your happiness this month and this year? What small moments in your life make you happy? How can you think differently about the little things to appreciate them in a new light?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for sharing this! I’m saving the video to watch later. And I love your ideas! I’ve been enjoying curling up with a chapter of a good book and a cup of hot tea. And I really can’t wait until we have fall weather and I can get comfy with a warm blanket by the fire. That is my happy place!

Love this idea and how you incorporate it in your life! I’m definitely all for positive relationships and I honestly think they’re one of the best things to help with happiness. I also love the list you’ve shared with your suggestions like taking a bath and spending time with a friend, etc! Great post!

I am listening to this TED talk and it is so good- thank you for sharing. The Harvard comment thing was really funny as well. I needed to read this post though and I shared the happy list. Thanks for sharing!

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Hello!

I'm Yolanda. I love tea, food, the outdoors and a good book. I'm a bonus mom to two boys and just made it official by marrying my soulmate this summer.

PutTheKettleOn.ca explores the feel good ways to live for today. With today's stresses a lot of us think about what we want to have in the future. My goal is to cherish the great things I have right now and make the most of life in the present.

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget, if you need a little self love – put the kettle on!